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I keep sagittaria subulata, various crypts, rotalas, java ferns, bacopa carolina, wisteria, water sprite, various swords, anubias and mosses all in under 2wpg with no co2, NPK and trace once a week. All plants grow well, slowly, but they grow. I do a 30-40% water change every other week or so and prune rarely. Might want to look up the walstad method for minimal maintenance.

I've got a new Fluval Spec 5 that I was debating pushing to high tech.

After spending some more time in the low tech section, it's clearly the way I want to go.

The dimensions of the tank are 17" x 6" x 10.6" high.

I'd like low maintenance, modest growth plants that require no CO2 or any serious fert regime.

What plants would you suggest in this set up?

Ideally, I'd like plants that stay relatively low to the ground as tall plants in a rectangular tank aren't very pleasing to the eye. I understand this counterintuitive for a low tech tank as the plants naturally grow more vertically to capture the light.

I love crypt parva for this reason and I have some red wendtti but am looking for some variety. Any suggestions?

Hello STS...

I keep Anacharis, Pennywort, Anubias and some of the Amazon swords. I like Singapore moss too. All will grow well in low to moderate light. No added CO2 is needed if you keep to the less light demanding plants.

I just dose a variety of liquids in addition to the ferts the fish provide.

B

12-03-2012 07:44 PM

STS_1OO

Thanks Urbguy, those are excellent recommendations!

I'm hoping to hit a sweet spot where I can get sustained growth that can be kept in check without CO2 or heavy ferts yet, if I were to ramp up the ferts, I could get some heavier growth.

I'd love to be able to fit some red plants in there (dosing Iron of course) with the Fugeray 16" (~ 30 Par at 12" height).

I think getting those PAR levels right is important and thus, have been mulling between the Fugeray 16" or the Ray II 16" which outputs ~49 PAR at 12" height.

In that small a tank I could suggest things like Dwarf Anubias, Wendelov Java Fern, Mosses (one of the more compact ones, not the stringy Java Moss). Crypts are likely to stay smaller under low light conditions, so if that is the way you are thinking, go for it.

I totally agree that the dwarf clover is definitely a great plant for you. I also think that the Pygmy Chain Sword will definitely be good for you too; however, these kind of bush up rather than make lush carpets...Do check into it, I heard it grows realtively quickly even in conditions without co2 and high light as this plant doesn't like high light anyway.

12-03-2012 06:11 PM

STS_1OO

Thank you for both of your replies and the warm welcome!

I am not aiming for any sort of a carpet - definitely not under the illusion that I can get away with it.

I'd like to fill it with plants that rest just an inch or two above the substrate but don't extend beyond 5" or so. The options you guys put out I think fit very well into that, thank you.

I'll await any more suggestions. Thanks for the input!

12-03-2012 05:37 PM

MABJ

You will not get a carpet unless you fashion one out of moss, just so you know!

But first and foremost welcome to the forum! I hope you really like it here.

I'm a low tech guy. You can check my tanks in my signature.

I'd go with lower light crypts like parva (I think) you could do java ferns, there are tons of species.

Also consider Anubias Nana Petite, or even Anubias Nana.

Get LOTS of mosses. Get all kinds of mini mosses. I love moss, but it really does look nice.

Most mosses thrive in low livht

MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

12-03-2012 04:54 PM

Diana

In that small a tank I could suggest things like Dwarf Anubias, Wendelov Java Fern, Mosses (one of the more compact ones, not the stringy Java Moss). Crypts are likely to stay smaller under low light conditions, so if that is the way you are thinking, go for it.

I've got a new Fluval Spec 5 that I was debating pushing to high tech.

After spending some more time in the low tech section, it's clearly the way I want to go.

The dimensions of the tank are 17" x 6" x 10.6" high.

I'd like low maintenance, modest growth plants that require no CO2 or any serious fert regime.

What plants would you suggest in this set up?

Ideally, I'd like plants that stay relatively low to the ground as tall plants in a rectangular tank aren't very pleasing to the eye. I understand this counterintuitive for a low tech tank as the plants naturally grow more vertically to capture the light.

I love crypt parva for this reason and I have some red wendtti but am looking for some variety. Any suggestions?